Mass Effect was Call of Cthulhu with lasers.

[Xeverick]

lasers and robots (instead of frog/fish people)
Marsh = Saren
also Mass Effect has a serious lack of ATMOSPHERE compared to Call of Cthulhu!

 

[T-Bone24]

The difference being, of course, is that Sovereign is a robot with laser cannons. Therefore, 18x cooler the Cthulhu.

 

[Xeverick]

so if Cthulhu had lasers = win

 

[Nevyrmoore]

The difference being, of course, is that Sovereign is a robot with laser cannons. Therefore, 18x cooler the Cthulhu.

Cthulhu could destroy the world by just *being*.

Sovereign needs his buddies to help him.

I think if there were hundreds of Great Old Ones like Cthulhu waiting for the right time (like the Reapers), then the Reapers would be fucked. And the entire universe for that matter.

 

[Ph33nix]

yes, I would believe that that but uh you might have wanted to put spoiler in the title.

 

[jthm]

Ahem... *adjusts wizard hat* Cthulhu is the only Great Old One residing on Earth, the other Old Ones are as far as any human mind can tell distant beings in far off planes that care absolutely nothing for Earth nor humanity in the least and who's only contact with humanity has been the equivalent of swatting an annoying fly that just flew in unannounced through the window. Indeed why Cthulhu is even here is a mystery in itself as there's no indication whatsoever it gives a damn about humanity.

But yes, the entire 'Massive incomprehensibly powerful beings from afar who's purpose is unknowable to human minds' concept is indeed torn straight from the pages of H.P.Lovecraft. Difference is that in Lovecraft there's shit all humanity can do about it and if Cthulhu ever awakens his mere presence will be enough to destroy the world as we know it, whereas in Mass Effect the Reapers have to have a clear purpose and weakness exposed at some point for the sake of narrative and, ya know, fun! It's a game after all. Would kinda suck if the ending was: Oh look, there's the Reapers. Game Over!

Actually, given that I didn't like Mass Effect or the people who thought it was anything better than a B+ game (maybe from some other studio, but bioware did better long before Mass Effect) I think that would be the perfect ending. It might actually redeem the franchise in my mind if your character goes mad and the Reapers win anyway.

 

[Souplex]

There were no lasers in Mass effect dude.

 

[Ancientgamer]

Loving this game made me realize a couple things.

Sovereign, a member of an "ancient, unknowable" alien race of space squids, is the vanguard of the return of the Reapers, who live in dark space, where they can't be found by normal living creatures.

Cthulhu, a member of an "ancient, unknowable" alien race of squid giants, is the prophet of the return of the Old Gods, who live on the bottom of the deepest parts of the ocean, where he can't be found by normal living creatures.

Both have motivation to end mankind/organic life for no comprehensible reason to us.

I mean, not the first person to realize it most likely, but a quick search here didn't show anyone else talking about it.

Fuck yes I thought the same thing.

 

[wolf thing]

intresting i didnt really the simarlity

 

[dalek sec]

Ahem... *adjusts wizard hat* Cthulhu is the only Great Old One residing on Earth, the other Old Ones are as far as any human mind can tell distant beings in far off planes that care absolutely nothing for Earth nor humanity in the least and who's only contact with humanity has been the equivalent of swatting an annoying fly that just flew in unannounced through the window. Indeed why Cthulhu is even here is a mystery in itself as there's no indication whatsoever it gives a damn about humanity.

Nice way of summing up Cthulhu like that and can I have a wizard's hat as well?

 

[Kermi]

If you are wandering if the game's story is ripping off another story then i can tell you that it is not since the game is actually based on a novel of the same name. Unless i am mistaken.

Firstly, you're very much mistaken. The Mass Effect novels are based on the universe of the game.

Secondly, you're missing the point. He's pointing out the general idea of Mass Effect is the same general idea of Cthulu. Which apart from one extremely tenous thread, is highly questionable.

 

[Arachon]

Firstly, you're very much mistaken. The Mass Effect novels are based on the universe of the game.

I think he thought that the OP thought that Mass Effect was similar to the Call of Cthulu game (effectively not acknowledging the Call of Cthulu book).